SUPKEM elections to start within three months
The electoral process will start at the grassroots level and cascade through the sub-county and county levels before culminating in the national elections.
The Supreme Council of Kenya Muslims (SUPKEM) will conduct its elections within the next three months.
Announcing the development, Mombasa County SUPKEM Chairman Sheikh Athman Ali said the electoral process will start at the grassroots level and cascade through the sub-county and county levels before culminating in the national elections. Preparations for the exercise are already underway.
“The elections will commence from February or March and will be conducted from the sub-county level, proceed to the county level, and finally culminate in the national elections. Preparations for this process are ongoing,” Sheikh Athman said on Monday December 29, at the sidelines of the 1st Annual Coast SUPKEM Regional Leaders Forum held in Mombasa.
Echoing his sentiments, SUPKEM National Chairman Al Hajj Hassan Ole Naado confirmed that election plans are in progress and emphasized that the process will strictly adhere to the council’s constitution.
“According to the constitution, the current officials remain in office until 2027, and grassroots elections are required to begin one year before the national elections,” he said. “The elections are not a one-off event but a process that requires thorough preparation,” the chairman added.
Ole Naado further clarified that, as part of the electoral process, the registration window for new members has been closed. Only members listed in the SUPKEM registry will be eligible to participate in the elections.
SUPKEM Vice Chairman Sheikh Muhdhar Khitamy emphasized that participation in the elections will be limited to affiliated members, which include madrasas, mosques, and Muslim organizations.
“Only after the grassroots elections will we proceed to the national elections. As stipulated in the constitution, SUPKEM does not admit individual members; only registered affiliate members are eligible to take part in the electoral process,” he said.
The last SUPKEM elections were held in 2017, which resulted in the election of Ambassador Abdulrahman Nzibo as the chairman. The current Chairman, Hassan Ole Naado, joined the SUPKEM leadership in 2018 as Vice Chairman following the death of Sheikh Abdullahi Sirat, who previously held the position. Subsequent legal disputes led to Ole Naado assuming leadership of the council as SUPKEM chairman.